Take Charge of Your Poker Tilt with These Proven Strategies
One of the most debilitating feelings in the world of poker is tilt. The episode occurs when a player begins gambling erratically, usually after experiencing a frustrating or embarrassing scenario at the felt. However, it is possible to take control of tilt and live to play another day.
In this article, we take a look at how to eliminate tilt from your poker game. Armed with the following strategies, you can dial back your emotions, keep your cool and focus on winning more pots.
Understand Why You Feel Tilty
Tilt can be caused by multiple variables. The two most recognized are the psychological and physiological components. Physiological tilt might occur when a player is experiencing hunger, thirst, sickness, or another bodily discomfort. On the other hand, psychological tilt is a result of the perceived injustices players experience while playing poker.
Knowing the source of your tilt and why you experience it can help immensely in taking control of the situation. To signal tilt and stop it in its tracks, you must learn to recognize the onset of your tilt and intervene before the emotions take hold.
Identify Your Tilty Triggers
It may sound a bit counterintuitive, but you can often anticipate when your tilt may begin. For most players, it’s something specific like being inflicted with a bad beat or unsuccessful bluffing attempt or the tables you’re playing at.
By being aware of and acknowledging the causes of tilt, you can increase your chances to stop it in its tracks.
Take a Break
If you’re feeling like your emotions are spinning out of control, the last thing you want to do is continue playing. Taking a break helps you refresh your mind so that you can come back with a different perspective and make wise decisions.
When you take your break, step away from the poker table and head outside for a brisk walk or get that snack you’d been eyeing. The change of scene, plus the burst of serotonin and endorphins will help you wipe your slate clean and come back with a more level-headed mindset.
Play Smaller Games
For some, tilt is most pronounced when playing on large stakes. If this sounds like you, try playing smaller games as it could help you better control your tilt.
Smaller stake games are less stressful and also tend to feature casual players that are unlikely to get under your skin. And you’d still be able to land some decent wins.
Breathe & Visualize
When you’re feeling the strain, take a moment or two away from the table to take some deep breaths and visualize yourself winning the pot.
Visualization has been known to be a powerful tool in keeping stress and anxiety at bay. So give it a shot every now and then and you’d be surprised at the results.
Focus on Each Hand
If you want to avoid a tilt, you must focus solely on the individual hand(s) you are playing.
If you’re busy analyzing the decisions of adjacent players or results from other tables, you’d find it difficult to focus on the task at hand. So make a conscious effort to focus on each hand and try to play the best you can.
Conclusion
Tilt can be a real deal-breaker, however, with the right strategies, you can take charge of it and use it to your advantage. The techniques outlined above should help you control your emotions and allow you to make sound decisions.
Remember, accepting tilt as part of poker is the first step in beating it. It takes time, practice and consistency to master the process, but once you do, you will find yourself in a better position to make correct decisions.
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